Principal Helps Spark Reading Interest Through Innovative Program
In the small town of Brockville, Ontario, Principal Sarah Thompson has been making waves with her innovative approach to promoting reading among her students. As the head of Thousand Islands Elementary School, Thompson has implemented a program that has not only increased reading interest among her students, but has also garnered attention from educators across the country.
Thompson’s program, called “Reading Buddies,” pairs older students with younger ones to read together. The older students, who are in grades 4 to 6, act as mentors and role models for the younger students in grades 1 to 3. This not only helps the younger students improve their reading skills, but also fosters a sense of community and leadership among the older students.
The idea for the program came to Thompson when she noticed a decline in reading interest among her students. “I wanted to find a way to make reading more fun and engaging for them,” she explains. “And what better way than to have older students read with younger ones?”
Thompson’s program has been met with great success. Not only have the younger students shown improvement in their reading abilities, but the older students have also reported feeling more confident and responsible. “I love reading with my buddy,” says 10-year-old Emily. “It makes me feel like I’m helping someone and it’s fun to see them get better at reading.”
The program has also received praise from parents and teachers. “My daughter used to struggle with reading, but since joining the Reading Buddies program, she has shown significant improvement,” says parent Jennifer Smith. “I’m grateful to Principal Thompson for implementing such a wonderful program.”
Thompson’s program has gained attention from other schools and educators, with many reaching out to her for advice on how to implement a similar program in their own schools. “I’m happy to share my ideas and resources with others,” says Thompson. “If it can help promote reading and improve literacy among students, then I’m more than happy to help.”
With the success of the Reading Buddies program, Principal Thompson hopes to continue finding innovative ways to promote reading and literacy among her students. “Reading is such an important skill and it’s our responsibility as educators to make it enjoyable and accessible for all students,” she says. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and I’m excited to see where this program will take us in the future.”
